Aspies For Freedom

I have just recently self-diagnosed myself with AS, simply because it fits so well.  All through Elementary school I was made into a bully because I was different, the kids would pick on me because I wouldn't make up my hair in the morning.  I didn't do this simply because I had very wild hair and I knew that once I tidied(?) up my hair by midday it would be a mess anyway, so they would call me names and anytime I would stand up for myself I would get in trouble.  Then I went to a small private school and thrived on the small classes (Only 4 other classmates!).
    It was when I moved to the US and went to public school however that I was depressed.  I remember going to lunch with some of the more popular kids, and they would joke about what it was like in Puerto Rico(Where I moved from).  I would not realize these were jokes so I would get defensive, and in retrospect I did over-react a little.  This made me more isolated through the middle and high school years.  But I would always have a handful of very close friends, and thrived academically in school.
    It wasn't until I was on anti-depressants that I did a 180 and became very social.  I used my poor conversational skills to my advantage in humor.  I would pronounce sentences in very odd ways.  Or make up new words logically, and see humor in weird twisted ways.  I have more friends now, though less close ones.  And I have a VERY broad sense of humor, I almost literally laugh out loud at any sight of humor.  And I love pointing out my own weird grammatical errors (With a weird sense of pride).  And I have a few words that I like to say randomly because I like the way they sound (Kamtchatka anyone?).  I also like to spin objects in the air or on smooth surfaces when I am waiting for something, if I dont have an object I destroy my nails.  When I concentrate I continuously rub my forehead.  I cannot stand silence I become a human beatbox, and I am HEAVILY into videogames. I am athletic and very clumsy at the same time.
    I also have communication problems with my girlfriend, we once had a rat problem, and I could not understand for the longest time her fear of rats, or of the dark.  Or her moms fear of balloons(She thinks they will pop at anytime).  She always seems to think I do not care when something wrong happens.
    I am also thinking of going into computer programming, though I am kind of reluctant because I am already 30k indebt from a multimedia degree  (I wanted to be an animator but the school taught me web design instead -_-).
   Thanks if you have read all that.  I just recently found out about AS and realized why I feel so different from everyone I know, and why I find it so hard to just have a conversation with people thats about something other than videogames or computers.

I can certainly relate to the rat thing as I have pet rats and am no longer afraid of the wild ones either.

Welcome onboard, seeing the signs and seeing what is the answer is very liberating. It does not make the problem go away but it explains so much.

I read on a posting on this forum that some parents with children who have AS will not admit to having some traits of it.

I am not one of those parents, I know I have a few traits although they are mild.  It was when my son got diagnosed and I read that its thought to be genetic did things start to make sense.  I even looked at my brother and my dad who have traits too and I told them.

I am not diagnosed though and probably never will be, thats not because I am frightened of a diagnosis or anything, just I simply recognise myself that I have a few aspie traits.

I always liked the fact I saw things different as I grew up, I liked that I had different opinions than most people, and I loved the fact that when I played on video games, I beat all the boys.  My friends and family have always loved the way I view things so I can't ever say I became deeply depressed or anything like that, when things are not going right and I feel down I take myself off in my car for a drive, usually sit at a quiet spot and be by myself for a while.. I must admit that having children and relationships make me sometimes go crazy for just some alone time.

I agree with Krispyg76 that recognising the signs is very liberating and it will certainly answer some questions for you.

take care
Jane

It is like a huge weight bieng lifted, something inside you saying "that explains that then". the thing is the more you read the more you understand. It is also good as you feel better about yourself.

Yes, once you know exactly what you're dealing with, it makes it easier.